Addendum: Please if you post here do not put any information down that would reveal blind snipers evil insidious plans. And if you are going to read his aar and want to give advice here, please consider what you might know and how that might have affected your advice, and if it has affected your advice do not post that part.

So blind sniper, informed me that he is doing an aar. And wow looks like 40 replies so far, must be a party going on in there, i figured i should start a message board to try and steal some of his fans; it's total war after all. If you want any specific screenshots or info just ask and I may provide the info you want.

Somewhere, sometime in 1943....

Previously in 1942)....

During the whole of a solemn day in the summer of the year 1942, when the clouds had vacated the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew on, within view of the melancholy Stavka. With the first glimpse of the headquarters building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit. The National Socialists had unleashed a devastating assault two days earlier. Stalin's words still rang in my head. "General, get to da headquahtars and direct da defense uf Rhostove, AT ALL CHOSTS!" The impetuous fury of Stalin was not an empty gust, it was a building storm bristling with lethal sparks. My will was forged of iron from vital necessity. I resolved to fulfill my orders or bleed the entire Russian army, whichever came first. Better red than dead.

Upon my entrance to headquarters, a group of newly minted generals arose from a sofa on which they had been lying at full length, and greeted me, I at first thought, thank God I had some help to stem this crisis. But upon examination of their strategic insights, I knew these men had never seen a pazner spearhead bearing on them and would prove worthless. What a disaster, I had sincerely hoped Stalin would send me some competent replacements, but all i got were completely incompetent animals. I resolved to shoot them on the spot, and pulled out my nagant ready to squeeze as they reeled in terror. But i hesitated. The only saving grace of lives that day, there was no button in the interface to effect my wish.

I next sent a communique to our leader at Sevastopol Ivan Petrov, an old friend, if you could call anyone in the communist party a 'friend'. I knew he was a brilliant organizer, just what we needed to effect the chaos in front of the panzers, I issued orders for him to return immediately and take command of the Brainsk Front in the north; where I was expecting the primary German attack. I sat down gazing at the strategic map; and for some moments, while not speaking out, I gazed upon the little red counters of men's lives i was about to doom, feeling half of pity, half of awe. Surely, no man had ever before held the lives of so many, so terribly tethered, in so brief a period, as I! It was with difficulty that I could bring myself to admit the front lines must be abandoned. Fortifications that had been carefully prepared were for not. Completely negated by fast driving panzers.

I was at once struck with an incoherence an inconsistency; and I soon found this to arise from a series of feeble and futile struggles to overcome what I knew must be abated. For something of this nature I had indeed been prepared. The Germans MUST know they have to fear us, we will not run everywhere, even if it is the prudent decision. Several counter attacks are ordered at the spearheads of the advancing foes. The object of this stratagem, is to force the Nationalist's to adopt caution like a unruly child smacked suddenly on the nose. The resulting trepidancy and nervous agitation may keep them just far enough of a reach, to allow us to readjust the lines. Thankfully the Germans had been kind, and left most of our rail lines leading back from the developing encirclements largely unmolested, and this aided us greatly in evacuating pockets of men that had no other means of escape. They were unhesitatingly ordered to begin digging two lines of defense so that the next breakthrough may be more effectually managed if such luxuries were not afforded again.

We have a task before us which must be speedily performed. We know that it will be ruinous to make delay. There are several key bridges that can, if blown stall the German blitz to a crawl. I order the shelling of several of them, but only one small bridge crumbles beneath the barrages. To better prepare, and free myself form reliance of indirect action, i rail engineers to all key bridges that lay in the path of the approaching nationalist steel, they shall not be so lucky in the future.

From the sudden, frequent, and ungovernable outbursts of a fury to which I frequently am blinded. I abandoned my habit for a moment. Evil thoughts came to my reception. The darkest and most evil of thoughts. Seeking to establish a sequence of cause and effect, between disaster and salvation. I am discerning a chain of events and wish not to leave even a possible link imperfect. Unfortunately, the next disaster already glared in my eye, from the inevitable future. Although I had rescued our nearly calamitous situation. The price was very high. The vast majority of our army's are now un-entrenched, in the open, and very poorly disorganized. I fear the army commanders are going to quickly loose control of the situation and the masterful strategies that emanate form our precipice will not be so effectual in the future. When I first beheld this future apparition my wonder and my terror were extreme. But at length reflection came to my aid. There must be a massive counter stroke prepared. Stewing, and ready to charge into the chaotic mess with the fury of a bear. The attack will be so calamitous for the Germans, they will despair. Immediate preparations are begun all over Russia to collect forces for this roaring storm. If the Germans should be as careless as I hope, this should end their lofty ambitions and replace it with dread.

Not to neglect the details. I noticed my airforce was in a state of extreme disrepair. The Luftwaffe blanketed the sky at will. Beneath the pressure of torments such as these, the feeble remnant of the good within our army may be picked at by these insufferable crows. The moodiness of my usual temper increased to hatred of all things Luftwaffe. The larger portion of my tank army, my one gleaming light of hope, is tempting the crows to feed. We plan to make the diseased vultures pay for any more feed. We organize 4 new Anti aricraft groups, and i call Stalin personally pleading for new guns to staff them. He obliges to send what I need, but little more. The traps for the wretched aviary are now laid. We hope they swoop in for a meal to receive a healthy blast of buckshot. meanwhile our glorious airforce, is pulled back to rest and replenish, only gnashing their teeth after the enemies beaks are chipped.

Sevestapol looks to be in a hopeless situation. We are thankful that there is no need to hold it. I suppose its best purpose is a distraction for now, the longer we can hold the Germans attention there the better. Nonetheless ships are dispatched to keep the sea lanes clear. We are considering an evacuation, but if the Germans remain in force there, we may rather tether their forces to the ball and chain, and let throw the salty anchor to the abyss.

haha. My first read over your AAR and I was thinking, "man, this guy missed his calling, he should have been a screenwriter or something like that." There is no mention of combat or anything, so I am thinking that you are not much of a general. They I read Blind Sniper, then I come back to yours.

I now read your cryptic writing and realize that you are not just weaving a crazy novel, you are doing some really really outstanding combat operations!!!! I think this one will be over soon, I am thinking you are like Olivier and are a Decisive Campaign genius.

Would you mind explaining your comment about Flak. Are you saying are building 4 Flak units from scratch, or you have received them as Reinforcements? If you have built them from scratch, how long till they are operable (~75% intergrity) and did you use the Request Flak unit cards to assist.

Also, your air. What did you do? Put it in zero intercept and hide out somewhere?

I now read your cryptic writing and realize that you are not just weaving a crazy novel, you are doing some really really outstanding combat operations!!!! I think this one will be over soon, I am thinking you are like Olivier and are a Decisive Campaign genius.

I think its too soon to tell. Anyhow I am still badly outnumbered, and outgunned. There is alot hidden in there about my upcoming plans, I did it just for fun. Hope I have time to write more for each turn, maybe not though.

quote:

Would you mind explaining your comment about Flak. Are you saying are building 4 Flak units from scratch, or you have received them as Reinforcements? If you have built them from scratch, how long till they are operable (~75% intergrity) and did you use the Request Flak unit cards to assist.

Yes, I created 4 units from scratch and assigned them to various armies, costing 4 PP. Then i played the flak card costing me 20 to get guns. However.. I made a big mistake and should have waited. Because even though i put the new units on priority here is what happened. Only 2 on the 4 units got 5 guns each. the other two are still completely empty. I noticed I got 100 trucks, and 50 were split each way between the two units. I suspect, the units didnt fill out because there were not enough trucks available and my precious aa guns went to other units / headquarters units. This throws a big wrench in my plan I have coming up. But as always we will adapt around the setback. next time I think If i want aa units to fill out I will need to play a card for trucks and aa guns simultaneously. I have no idea about the integrity, im not really concerned with unit integrity for aa guns. For my frontline units its a big problem as most of them are 50% or lower, but I try to keep the aa guns out of ground combat, so they wont shatter.

quote:

Also, your air. What did you do? Put it in zero intercept and hide out somewhere?

Mostly, soon you will see. I saved a few strumoviks, and a fighter or two, for when I absolutely need them.. for the panzer spearheads.. I noticed my strumoviks just shrug of the german fighters even without escorts. They are very durable, even if they dont kill anything they disrupt the units before attack. And the fighter I keep mainly for recon, and the added bonus of recon it tires out the german interceptors before the ground attack so hopefully less show up, and they take low losses on recon, less than if they were escorting for sure.

quote:

Also, are you saying you reassigned the Sevastapool leader to somewhere else?

yes he was sent to replace the Briansk front leader, who had 18 in organizational skill. That just wont do. I was very upset i didnt get any good leaders at organization at all. Usually every time I started Case Blue, i got at least one or two. This time none. I wanted to form several new Front commands, I have too many armies under South Western Front. But I hope to get some better generals later to do this anyway.

"Listen to me!!" yelling into the direct line to 5th Tank Army. "There is a spot in the line where you can attack, commit your reserves!..... I don't care how muddy it is.......NO!........ continue the attack or you'll be in Siberia tomorrow! *slam*” This accursed battlefield, torrents of rain, had stalled the raging tank battle west of Voronezh. Over a thousand of the steel beasts groaned, and slogged through the mud, an enormous tank battle was taking place, hundreds were burning, the flames licking the hot steel some bodies still inside producing a terrible odor. But then the rains came and extinguished the remaining flames, cleansed the air of stench. Both sides seemed to have taken a pause as the little dirt roads became slick with mud.

Pavel Rybalko sat across form the desk waiting patiently, a stack of papers neatly clipped together in his lap.

“Aleksandr is a good commander. But hes too attached to his tanks. I'd rather they all burn smashing into the panzers than get picked apart from the air Pavel . “Of course sir" Pavel unhesitatingly reassured. “If only all my generals were like you Pavel ; we would win this war tomorrow!”

“Well, then Sir; I have received personally information and reports, from every quarter, that all preparations are ready.” Rybalko said as if the flattery was expected. “My temper had erased my train of thought there Pavel... What is ready?”

To be buried while alive is, beyond question, the most terrific of these extremes which has ever fallen to the lot of mere mortality. Pavel had listened to The commanders ramblings at length the day he arrived at stavka. And consented to take the experiment to fruition. These considerations of the risks involved had led him to think that some good results might ensue from a series of well-directed naval landings, with air cover of the entire Russian airforce, supported with anti aircraft fire form land and sea. The extensive knowledge Pavel displayed was key to making the operation successful, bringing together forces from all over Russia to effect this double pointed strike. Upon all points relating to a singular goal, the entombment of two German corps, the besiegers, will become the besieged. And from these cognizances may be deduced hints for the conduct of the catechism.

“Preparations are completed for Operation Ball and Chain. All forces are awaiting the code word General.” “But this weather?” “Weather reports are the skies will be cleared by tomorrow. Our task forces haven't been spotted in the rain, the Luftwaffe isn’t flying today.” “And what of our saboteurs, has the west rail line been cut?” “No way to know if they will make it or not sir.. they've been ordered by radio to avoid combat and cut that rail at all costs.” “Can we launch the operation without that rail cut?” “We'll sir, we could delay the operation a day to give them time, but I made all necessary preparations to blockade the ports, no supplies will reach them I assure you the shelling of Sevastopol will end by tomorrow.” “Very well Rybalko, give the word. But first, you've been of immense help to me Pavel, I'd like you to form a new front to relive Southern front. “Call it 1st Front. Named after you Pavel, number one.”

Rybalko cooly reached to grab the emergency orders line as if the promotion was long expected, he picked up the handset waiting for the operator to connect to the North Caucus Front and spoke two words into the mouthpiece. “Salty Anchor”

Tank battle in the north west of Voronezh, truly a tank massacre on both sides going on here. I hope to grind the germans down and then I will commit coming reserves in mass, not sure where that will be yet, it could be here.

Here is pavel, an amazing general, for soviets at least. I am going to put him to good use leading the new 1st Front.

Our losses cant be sustained much longer, I am getting a large number of reinforcements,.. but not enough to make up my losses at all. I may have to start paying some PP for infantry and tanks and guns.. which is a shame i would rather get more generals.

I hope not, I'm kinda hoping he will break though my lines soon and give me some trouble so the game can go to 1943. Maybe my plan might be a little bit gamey or not. Not sure what you will think about it. But blind sniper and I stated ahead of time if anything is considered gamey, we can abandon taht practice, the house rules dont forbid my plan that i'm aware, and furthermore if this is a problem i'd prefer to expose it now, so perhaps a patch of some type might remove this problem in the future, this is a learning game for both of us.

I played both sides some versus the ai, and once a small game vs germans as russians on pbem 2nd kharkov. So I think I really have a good idea how to frustrate the german encirclements. I find myself adopting a series of step in my strategem. In regards this mental guide tells me home many units to place in which part of the lines, whether to adopt a 'forward carpet' (strong line in front carpet behind) a 'reverse carpet' (Carpet in front, strong line behind), or a single strong line with small reserve. Its mainly related to the condition of his units and the terrain on which im fighting along with whether the portion of the line im defending is a back bulge or forward bulge. Implementing this arrangement allows me to evacuate forward pockets faster, and quickly build a concentration at his spearheads. I think he could still get through, but he will have to maybe use cards and really concentrate his attack more.

However his strategy may be the right one, just going for direct combat shattering. As I am still taking heavy losses in direct combat and the sacrifice I make to prevent encirclements is leading to my units getting shattered in large quantities. I don't know if its possible to view combat replays in pbem, but what im guessing he is doing is encircling small units pockets and eliminating them the same turn, and or just shattering my units. I have yet to notice any multi turn pockets, save a small one from the start of the game. Although it may just be worth it if I can delay him from his objective, I do not know what they are so I'm trying to hold the front everywhere more or less equally, but paying special attention to Rostov, my objective.

(I just figured out how to view replays), seems all his attacks were victorious, save for one at sevestapol, he is attacking the city directly form one direction, which I think is a bad idea, I rotate out the hurt units from the city, and replace them with fresh ones, but I need to hold the Fortress hex So he cant attack the city form two sides. So it is a very careful balance. I think he should have at least somewhat contested the naval supply of sevestapol, because even if he could have cut my supplies for one turn there, it could have really hurt me, but this didnt happen. But he is shattering my units, I think I may lower more units to 25% retreat to avoid this in the future, I had been putting some divisions on 25% retreat, but not enough. But it has been slowing him down alot.

once you take back your line, you really have to think about how to go on. without proper entrenchment those men and women are easy targets for the fascists. i wanted to do a slow retreat but it costs me lots of units. in theory you could do a three line deep defence with the line furthest back having at least a turn or two to dig in and the front line taking the punch, then pull back and rest. but if the german player like Olivier is concentrating his forces he will often achieve breakthroughs forcing me to pull back before any entrenchment is made.

I think your opponent is playing a far too costly strategy. he will not be able to support this many turns. soon his spearheads will be burned out. your reinforcements are easily five to eight times higher. the german player just cannot sustain a kill/loss ratio like you two are having.

I watched the replays for all the turns.. and noticed he hammered my airfocre on the ground on turn one. OUCH! No wonder they were so poor. Not really any hope to contest him in the air except at a specific part of the front. Outnumbered and outgunned. I know I will be getting alot of reinforcements,.. but most of my units are near breaking point, i better get those reinforcements soon or my entire army will start shattering.. sure his losses are maybe high? At least his tank losses, but his units are all still near full integrity. If he keeps pressuring me I may be forced to surrender ground instead of lives.

i had to smile, your war is a psychedelic trip, chesus de maria! with the supply system in the DC game, he has to immediatly counter your threat, rail in some divisions to free the railways, or his 11A will be immobilized within two turns. after that you could try and attack him with your forces in Sevastopol.

With your introduction of the new Russian Tactic of Seaborne Invasion.., everyone will use it and fear it.

Therefore starting now, if the Germans already had an impossible task in Case Blue, KRUPP 88 has now made the German task more impossible.

Someone needs to give Krupp 88 a medal for this one.

I really don;t think i need a medal, i feel kinda bad actually, i think this should at least make a houserule of some sort regarding seaborne invasions, necessary, I honestly don't know what poor germans can do about this. Either that or maybe vic could make a rule regarding sea landings, like when a unit lands it looses readiness / organization.. instead of landing at 100% organization. My units leap off the ships and are running. Seems maybe overpowered. Might be better if landing disrupted their readiness significantly, that way they would need resupply before they could move so far and fast ect. Or another possibility, remove the ability of landing forces to affect zoc in surrounding hex's. taht way it would be impossible to break rails on the first landing turn.

Also It may be nice if airattacks on ships was a bit ore deadly, because as it stands there is nothing he can do to stop my navy without perhaps the entire german airforce.

quote:

CA army could probably do with a high priority replacement setting?

I had them on priority for I think the first two turns.. i can't tell but i don;t think they are getting replacements, the supply in sevestapol is pretty bad. I would like to land an army there to attack, but doing that would roughly double my transit time for my transports so I may capture kerch or another port on the east instead.

If the axis player moves by rail enough units to control all the harbors in the first three turns and a few boats to see if an amphibious invasion is launch and to cut the supply of the soviets in Sebastopol, it should be enough to keep the rail jonction from Sebastopol and Rostov open. The soviets need all his units to control the german advance. How many of them have been part of this brillant operation ? (You can feel bad. Staline would not have launch an operation like that ! Must be an idea of Churchill ? no ?

This is a joke? Is Vic read what any of landing operations in WW2 Something like this was not to conduct a 42 y by the Russians The scale of resources needed to shift the 5th Infantry Division are gigantic How many Russians took transports? How had landing craft? How secured against the Luftwaffe?

If the axis player moves by rail enough units to control all the harbors in the first three turns and a few boats to see if an amphibious invasion is launch and to cut the supply of the soviets in Sebastopol, it should be enough to keep the rail jonction from Sebastopol and Rostov open. The soviets need all his units to control the german advance. (You can feel bad. Staline would not have launch an operation like that ! Must be an idea of Churchill ? no ?

the thing is he did have his ports garrisoned, even those two minor ally's gaurding the port I jsut stormed, they were no match to hold once the supply was cut.

I wonder if he is air supplying his forces? I can;t remember I think the axis have a large transport fleet, i am really curious to ask my opponent if he is airdropping supplies, although also kinda don't wanna give him any ideas either..

Garrisoning towns wont prevent me form cutting the rail lines sadly. And cutting them one turn puts the supply to sea where my boats eat it. i really think the only good solution is an engine change or a house rule. Or if he put maybe two to three full divisions guarding the west rail line. he would need probably an entire army group to garrison it properly the way the mechanics of the game work

quote:

How many of them have been part of this brillant operation ?

It is growing every turn. As now I think almost two full armies (counting sevestapol three), about 10-11 divisions (not counting sevestapol) (some are preparing for transport embarkment) although most of those divisions are not near full strength at all. Some aa regiments. The entire soviet fleet and almost the entire airforce.

And I still have an army in reserve. Once my western transports return I can land two divisions every turn.

This is a joke? Is Vic read what any of landing operations in WW2 Something like this was not to conduct a 42 y by the Russians The scale of resources needed to shift the 5th Infantry Division are gigantic How many Russians took transports? How had landing craft? How secured against the Luftwaffe?

Vic is extremely not realistic As soon as you fix it IMO

Krup you can specify how many troops you have used in this operation?

I think I agree, the game mechanics dont really .. or are too accommodating of naval landings.. im sorry i did this, but i think its good to think of a way to fix it, i apologize for my gaymeyness

I think i should give a reply here. First of all! I like the AAR and the aggressive tactics.

Secondly... the point in question:

Admittedly the German start position could use some initial troops in the neck of the Crimea like at the start of Trappenjagd, now the German player has to rail some troops in to prevent this move by Krupp.

But to be honest the rail lines could be defended with 2 romanian infantry divisions. Keep in mind that enemy only takes a hex by ZOC if it excerts X times more ZOC on the hex in question than any friendly units do.

Furthermore after landing a unit (amphibiously, as in not unloading in a port hex) it has 0 ap left and can only be moved further in land the next turn. This means the Germans can react by railing in extra units.

The transport also loses all AP on debarking troops in amphibious invasion and is now a very tempting target for the Luftwaffe.

Furthermore Perekop and Genitschesk are not ports in my game. So the Soviets will have a very problematic supply situation even if they manage to capture these towns. And even if the Soviets would have landed elsewhere and captured a true port keep in mind that the Luftwaffe is perfectly capable in reducing the locations structural points to 0 and thereby causing the same level of supply problems as if the town was not a port at all.

Vic thank you for your reply but I wanted more about the reality of not landing five divisions apparently, than for advice on how to deal with it. Landing operation in Normandy in a seven divisions and for their transportation needs to use 4000 ships and barges I think that the Russians in the 42 y did not have the Black Sea such resources

For gameplay purposes the naval cargo capacities have been enlarged somewhat. true.

However keep in mind that the Soviets were at this time are able to do quite extensive naval operations as is shown in the evacuation of Odessa forces 1941, the building up of the Sevastopol army 1941, and also for example in their Christmas 1941 amphibious assault on the Kerch peninsula and subsequent shipping operations. I think their cargo capacity allows them to ship about 50.000 troops per week at least.

Also keep in mind that the landing at Perekop takes Krupp more then a week to execute if coming from the Northern Caucasus. The transports getting there need at least 2 rounds to get there. They stay there for a round and need 2 rounds to get back before being able to be deployed again. But even closer targets as Kerch require 3 rounds to execute and free the cargo up for new ops.

from what I read the Russians in the operation of 26 December once transported no more than 6-7 thousand soldiers I can now turn on the game but seeing the size of the operation "Krupp" I assume that the ships transported a lot more troops than 7 k Note also that the distance between Krech and areas occupied by the Russians is not great. What other operation on the isthmus there is a lot more distance

After that, the problem is the effectiveness of German air force in the fight against the Soviet Navy

Generally, it seems to me that the Russians too easily can pass a lot of forces by sea. But I'll test and may change my mind

from what I read the Russians in the operation of 26 December once transported no more than 6-7 thousand soldiers I can now turn on the game but seeing the size of the operation "Krupp" I assume that the ships transported a lot more troops than 7 k Note also that the distance between Krech and areas occupied by the Russians is not great. What other operation on the isthmus there is a lot more distance

After that, the problem is the effectiveness of German air force in the fight against the Soviet Navy

Generally, it seems to me that the Russians too easily can pass a lot of forces by sea. But I'll test and may change my mind

I am not saying some fine tuning is not in order. I am studying things a little further as we speak and I think i'll decrease cargo capacity a little as well as HP.